Apparatus and method for pneumatic or gaseous catapulting of items in bulk and production method thereof

ABSTRACT

The following describes a device for the pneumatic or gas-operated catapulting of loose objects, in particular objects attached to a rope, in particular a cloth bag, with an accelerating tube, a pressure chamber, an initial operable expansion valve and a second load valve, whereby the accelerating tube is attached to one end of a fluid line from the expansion valve as an extension and the pressure chamber is designed on the opposite end of the fluid line as an extension, the load valve is designed in the direct fluid connection with the pressure chamber, whereby the catapultable object can be placed and/or inserted loosely into the barrel of the accelerating tube, in front of the expansion valve.

BACKGROUND

The following describes a device for the pneumatic or gas-operated catapulting of loose objects, in particular objects attached to a rope, in particular a cloth bag, and a manufacturing method for the aforesaid device.

STATE OF THE ART

A line-throwing appliance for rope climbing systems in tall trees is, for example, known. In this regard, a throwing element is thrown upwards by means of air pressure through a throwing tube. Such throwing devices are also advantageous for tree maintenance and tree seed harvesting, and for picking cones.

A throwing element is attached to a throwing line and thrown upwards into the tree over a forked branch. The throwing line is drawn over the branch by the weight of the throwing element.

Throwing a throwing bag upwards by hand requires a lot of experience and this is not possible for many applications.

A throwing appliance with a throwing tube into which the throwing element is inserted is known. In the throwing tube, the throwing element seals the tube with a rubber plate and a seal, so that underneath a pressure chamber with compressed air is created. A mechanical lock is disengaged in order to catapult the throwing element. A catapult is known comprising a two-meter long fibreglass rod a rubber for catapulting.

In addition, when fishing, a lure is thrown very far into the air by hand. The throwing appliance shown here could also be used for fishing.

PROBLEM TO RESOLVE

The aim is to create a device as well as a manufacturing method for catapulting, which enables simple and rapid manufacturing of the device and implements a precise method for the catapulting of loose objects.

SOLUTION, ADVANTAGES AND DESIGN

The device for the pneumatic or gas-operated catapulting of loose objects is designed with an accelerating tube, a pressure chamber, an initial operable expansion valve and a second load valve, whereby the accelerating tube at one end of a fluid line from the expansion valve is designed as an extension and the pressure chamber at the opposite end of the fluid line is designed as an extension. The load valve is directly connected to the pressure chamber and the catapultable object can be loosely inserted and/or placed in the accelerating tube in the barrel in front of the expansion valve.

Such a device design is very simple. The catapultable object can be of any design. A seal for the accelerating tube is not necessary. A seal for the accelerating tube would also be obstructive, as this would cause friction which counteracts the accelerating force. Such a device comprises few components and is very effective in that objects can be easily catapulted between 10 and 300 m with an appropriate pressure. Other advantages of this pneumatic projectile device are that minimum effort is required for higher target accuracy and thus execution with the throwing object is significantly quicker. The device is also extremely robust and has a very low wear rate and an extended service life. One concept of the invention is to initiate manual pump delivery, which is for example, applied by manual muscle power, in pneumatic energy in a pressure chamber, and to trigger this in a controlled manner with a manually or electrically controllable lever.

According to a further embodiment, the pressure chamber is designed as a metal tube with a lid which can be sealed with a sealing tape. A metal tube has the advantage that extremely high pressures are possible.

A ball tap-ball valve is preferred for the operable expansion valve, in particular a ball tap-ball valve with a manually operable hand lever. The advantage is that finished valves are known and available in standard sizes. The operation is easily variable with a hand lever. The hand lever has several advantages. One advantage is that, with the hand lever, the catapulting force is defined and controllable. If the ball tap-ball valve is opened, the pneumatic compressive force expands very quickly and the loose object is accelerated very rapidly with a high force. If, on the other hand, the ball tap-ball valve is opened slowly or only with a smaller gap, only a small acceleration force is generated. According to a further preferred embodiment, the ball tap-ball valve is electrically activated by means of an electric drive. The procedure for opening the expansion valve can therefore be even more accurately reproduced.

The accelerating tube and the pressure chamber are preferably essentially identical tubes. In particular, the device is essentially wholly manufactured from plastic materials, in particular PVC. The device can therefore be manufactured very easily and cost-effectively. The seals on the ball tap-ball valve are reinforced, for example, with Teflon PTFE. In particular, the more preferred alternative is that the device, and in particular the tubes, are designed wholly of metal and made from standard components with corresponding threads, for example, in the format of a one inch internal diameter or a 0.5 inch internal diameter or any other standardised size.

The cost of components is therefore reduced as a high proportion of identical parts is achieved. The metal pipe standard components with corresponding threads, for example, in the format of a one inch internal diameter or a 0.5 inch internal diameter or any other standardised size, are preferred.

A load valve which can be integrated into the adapter with the ball tap-ball valve is preferred. For this, the ball tap-ball valve is preferably manufactured with an opening for the load valve, preferably designed with threads. The load valve can therefore be screwed onto the integrated adapter of the ball tap-ball valve. Alternatively, the load valve can be integrated, for example, into the sealable lid.

In order to reproduce the manufacture of the throwing device as compactly and cost effectively as possible, the load valve is preferably an auto valve. The auto valve can preferably be screwed onto the fluid line adaptor of the expansion valve. This therefore results in a compact adapter with a ball tap-ball valve and auto valve as the load valve. Alternatively, as described above, the auto valve, can also be screwed onto a lid to close the pressure chamber.

In order to reduce component cost, the expansion valve is preferably integrated into the fluid line adapter and T-shaped with two openings, one for the pressure chamber and one for the accelerating tube. The load valve can be screwed into the fluid line adapter between the accelerating tube and pressure chamber. The device can therefore be efficiently manufactured using five compact components.

A method for manufacturing a device, in particular as described above, for the pneumatic or gas-operated catapulting of loose objects comprises the following method steps. A closing lid, in particular with a sealing tape, impermeable to fluids, being a pressure chamber, is mounted or more preferably screwed onto a pipe, preferably made of plastic materials, in particular of metal, in particular with standardized threads.

On the opposite side of the pressure chamber, an integrated ball tap-ball valve is mounted, whereby the ball tap-ball valve is mounted with a direct line to the pressure chamber and an accelerating tube is mounted opposite, preferably screwed, onto the pressure chamber. It is understood that any valve known according to the state of the art that generates the same technical effects as a ball tap-ball valve, can be used as a ball tap-ball valve.

Thus, with only a few components, a stable, cost-effective projectile throwing device with a long service life is created.

Method for catapulting a loose object with controllable force, in particular with a rope attached thereto, and comprising the following, more preferably with the following steps associated with said device. In a pressure chamber, a fluid, in particular air, is filled and compressed manually by a load valve or more preferably by means of a compressor. In an accelerating tube, an object for catapulting is placed or inserted loosely in front of an expansion valve. By opening the expansion valve manually or electrically, the object is accelerated and catapulted by means of expanding the fluid, in particular air. The accelerating force is controlled by the opening angle and the opening speed of the expansion valve, in particular a ball tap-ball valve. During tree maintenance, throwing bags, for example, can thus be transported with great precision up to 100 m and significantly further in treetops or in industrial installations. It can then be hoisted by a rope or throwing line attached to the throwing bag. In the other area of application of fishing, bait can, for example, be flung up to 250 m with a fishing line using the method described above.

In order to attain high distances, the pressure chamber is preferably pressurised to at least 10 bar, more preferably to 15 bar and even more preferably to 20 bar. This pressure is preferably achievable with a conventional bicycle pump or a conventional auto valve compressor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Possible designs are now illustrated in more detail using the appended schematic representations, of which:

FIG. 1 presents a schematic view of the preferred device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for the pneumatic or gas-operated catapulting of a loose object 2. In this particular case, the loose object 2 is a cloth sack which has a ring onto which a rope 3 is attached. The cloth sack is filled with sand or another heavy object, such a lead, to enhance the gravitational force. The device 1 comprises an accelerating tube 4, a pressure chamber 5 as well as an expansion valve 6 and a load valve 7. The load valve 7 is designed with a direct fluid connection to the pressure chamber 5. The catapultable object 2 is inserted loosely into the barrel 8 of the accelerating tube 4 in front of the expansion valve 6. The expansion valve 6 is preferably a ball tap-ball valve with either an electrical control with an actuator or with a manual hand lever 9, as shown in FIG. 1.

The pressure chamber 5 is also designed as a pipe, in particular of the same size as the acceleration pipe 4 equipped with a thread on both sides.

A lid 10, impermeable to fluids and sealed tight with a sealing tape 11, for example a Teflon tape 11, is screwed onto the end of the pressure chamber 5. A fluid line adapter 16 is designed as a T-shaped component with the expansion valve 6. The load valve 7 can be attached by screwing at the junction of the T-piece. The load valve 7 is preferably an auto valve. The auto valve can be coupled using known autovalve connections with manual pumps, such as, e.g. a bicycle pump or compressor pumps. The load valve 7 is arranged below the expansion valve 6 such that the direct fluid connection to the pressure chamber 5 is established, and locking is possible by means of the expansion valve 6 to the accelerating tube 4. In order to provide a light device 1, the total design of the device 1 is manufactured from plastic materials, in particular PVC. Alternatively, the device 1 is mainly manufactured of metal. Under certain circumstances, this therefore ensures a significantly higher pressure build-up in the pressure chamber 5. The pressure chamber 5 can store different pressures of at least 10 bar, more preferably 15 bar, and still more preferably 20 bar. By means of the expansion valve 6, which, as shown in FIG. 1, is preferably attached to a T-shaped fluid line adapter 16, the force for catapulting the object 2 can be individually adjusted and controlled. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressure chamber (5) is screwed onto the fluid line adaptor 16 or is screwed into the accelerating tube as an extension. As the load valve 7, the auto valve is screwed into the fluid line adapter between the accelerating tube 4 and the pressure chamber 5.

The device of this type 1 is suitable for throwing bags upwards over a branch in an accordingly controlled manner during tree maintenance. The device is also suitable for use in fishing to catapult fishing line hooks with bait over a great distance, for example, up to 300 m. It can also be used to catapult replacement projectiles used with bows and crossbows, for example, safety arrows.

The manufacturing method of the device 1 is characterised by a few steps, regardless of whether the entire device 1 is manufactured mainly of plastic materials or of metal, a tube, in particular with standardized threads on both sides, a sealing lid, impermeable to fluids, is mounted, in particular screwed, onto the pressure chamber 5 with a sealing tape 11. A fluid line adapter 16 with a ball tap-ball valve 6 is mounted on the opposite side of the tube and on this, an accelerating tube 5 is mounted opposite in the extension of the ball tap-ball valve 6. A load valve 7 being an auto valve, impermeable to fluids, is mounted on the pressure chamber 5, preferably on the fluid line adapter 16, below the ball tap-ball valve 6.

The preferred method includes the following steps. In a pressure chamber 5 of the device 1, a fluid is filled and compressed through air, manually or by means of a compressor, by the auto valve being the load valve 7. For example, a pressure gauge can be provided on the manual air pump or compressor to verify the pressure chamber pressure. The ball tap-ball valve 6 is thereby closed. The catapulting object 2 is inserted loosely in front of the expansion valve in the barrel 8 of the accelerating tube 4. Manual opening using the hand lever 9 of the expansion valve 6 or an electrically controlled opening of the ball tap-ball valve expands the air, i.e., the fluid from the pressure chamber 5 catapults the object 2 upwards. The acceleration force of the device 1 is controlled on the one hand by the opening angle and by the opening speed of the expansion valve 6.

The previously described variations of the method and the device serve only to better understand the structure, function and properties of the solution presented; they do not restrict the disclosure of the embodiment examples. The FIGURE is presented schematically, whereby essential properties and effects are sometimes significantly augmented in order to clarify the functions, mechanisms of action, technical embodiments and features. In doing so, each function, each principle, each technical embodiment and each feature, revealed in the FIGURE or in the text, with all claims, each feature in the text and in the other FIGURE, other functions, principles, technical embodiments and features contained in this disclosure or resulting therefrom, are freely and optionally combined, so that all possible combinations of the described solution are referenced. In doing so, combinations of all individual embodiments in the text, i.e. in each section of the description, in the claims and also combinations of different variations in the text, in the claims and in the FIGURES, are included. The device and method details set out above are thus presented in context; it should be noted, however, that they are independent of each other and can be freely combined with one another.

The interrelations of individual parts and sections thereof shown in the figures and their dimensions and proportions are not intended to be restrictive. Individual dimensions and proportions may deviate significantly from those displayed.

The claims also do not limit the disclosure and thus the combination options of all displayed features. All the features are explicitly available separately and in combination with all other features disclosed here. 

1. Device for the pneumatic or gas-operated catapulting of loose objects, in particular of an object attached to a rope, in particular a cloth bag, with an accelerating tube, a pressure chamber, an initial operable expansion valve and a second load valve, whereby the accelerating tube is attached as an extension to the end of a fluid line from the expansion valve and the pressure chamber attached to the opposite end of the fluid line as an extension, the load valve is designed with a direct fluid connection to the pressure chamber, whereby the catapultable object can be inserted and/or placed loosely in the barrel of the accelerating tube in front of the expansion valve.
 2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pressure chamber is designed as a metal tube with a sealable lid, in particular with a sealing tape.
 3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the operable expansion valve is designed as a ball tap-ball valve, in particular electrically activated, or more preferably manually controllable.
 4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the accelerating tube and the pressure chamber are identical tubes, in particular the device is manufactured wholly of plastic materials, in particular PVC, or more preferably wholly of metal.
 5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the ball tap-ball valve is manufactured with an opening for the load valve preferably designed as a thread.
 6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the load valve is an auto valve, which can preferably be screwed onto the fluid line adapter of the expansion valve.
 7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the expansion valve is integrated as a fluid line adapter with a T-shape with two openings, one for the pressure chamber and the other for the accelerating tube and the load valve can be screwed into the fluid line adapter between the accelerating tube and pressure chamber.
 8. Method for manufacturing a device, in particular according to claim 1, for the pneumatic or gas-operated catapulting of loose objects, preferably manufactured from plastic materials, in particular metal, whereby a sealing lid being a pressure chamber, impermeable to fluids, is screwed onto a tube, in particular with standardised threads on both sides, on the opposite side an integrated ball tap-ball valve is mounted, whereby the ball tap-ball valve is mounted with a direct line to the pressure chamber and an accelerating tube is mounted opposite in the extension of the ball tap-ball valve and a load valve, in particular an auto valve, impermeable to fluids,is mounted on the pressure chamber.
 9. Method for catapulting a loose object with a controllable force, in particular with a rope attached, in particular by means of a device according to claim 1, whereby, in a pressure chamber, a fluid, in particular air, is filled and compressed by a load valve manually or more preferably by means of a compressor, in an accelerating tube, a loose object for catapulting is placed or inserted in front of an expansion valve and, by opening the expansion valve manually or electrically, the object is catapulted by expansion of the fluid, whereby the acceleration force is controlled by the opening angle and the opening speed of the expansion valve, in particular a ball tap-ball valve.
 10. Method according to claim 9, whereby the pressure chamber g-is subjected to a pressure of at least 10 bar, more preferably 15 bar, still more preferably 20 bar, in particular using a conventional bicycle pump and/or a conventional auto valve compressor. 